Young bride

Seo-ah’s body stiffened.

A practice kiss before their official act? She knew they had to pretend to be lovers in front of people, but she hadn’t expected it to happen so soon. At that moment, the reality of her contract with Kang-woo hit her.

‘So this is why practice is necessary…’

Without prior practice, sudden physical affection in front of others would seem awkward.

“Have you ever kissed before?”

Kang-woo’s question made Seo-ah press her lips together tightly. Of course, she had never kissed anyone. She had neither the emotional nor the time to experience romance.

But she didn’t want to admit she had never kissed before, nor could she lie and say she had. As she lowered her gaze without answering, Kang-woo didn’t press her for a response.

“Ah.”

Instead, he reached out and pulled Seo-ah closer. His arms were long enough to reach her without difficulty.

“Close your eyes.”

His voice was low, commanding. There was an unspoken force that made it impossible to refuse, and Seo-ah’s eyes slowly closed.

With her sight gone, her body tensed automatically. The rustling of clothes sounded loud in her ears, and she felt his presence growing closer.

Then, warm, soft lips overlapped hers. A hot, damp breath flowed in.

A shiver ran down her spine as his large hands wrapped around her back and neck at the same time.

Each time their lips touched, a soft “smack” sound filled the air. There was no deep movement, no entangling of tongues. Kang-woo simply pressed his lips lightly against hers, then pulled away, repeating the action like he was stamping a seal.

It felt strangely intimate, as if he was treating her like someone precious. Seo-ah’s palms tingled.

Then, Kang-woo leaned in closer.

“Haa.”

As Seo-ah slightly parted her lips to breathe, his tongue slipped between them.

His warm tongue explored the inside of her mouth, brushing against her teeth. Goosebumps spread across her skin.

Their tongues moved slowly, rubbing against each other. The uneven texture of his tongue felt oddly vivid, making her toes curl.

Startled by the sensation, Seo-ah flinched occasionally. Each time, Kang-woo patted her back, as if soothing a child.

And then, like a predator not willing to let go of its prey, he bit down on her lower lip.

“Ah!”

A sharp pain mixed with an unfamiliar pleasure spread from her lip. Her body tensed, and a small whimper escaped her lips.

His tongue swept through her open mouth, dominating every inch.

Their tongues tangled messily, heat rising between them. When his tongue brushed against the inside of her cheek, her mind went blank.

A soft moan slipped out from her lips. The sound was so unfamiliar, she barely recognized it as her own.

“Mmh…”

Kang-woo tilted his head, deepening the kiss. Seo-ah gasped for air, her chest rising and falling rapidly.

As she kept retreating, trying to escape, Kang-woo firmly held the back of her neck, keeping her in place.

It was just lips pressing together. Just a kiss. But the sensation felt dangerously intimate, making her whole body burn.

‘This is…’

It was nothing like she had imagined.

She had always thought kissing was gross. Watching people swap saliva in movies or videos had made her wrinkle her nose in disgust.

But experiencing it herself was entirely different.

Maybe it was because her partner was the teacher she once had a crush on. Or maybe it was because Kang-woo smelled like clean, fresh citrus.

Far from being disgusting, the kiss was dizzying. The new sensations made her heart race like a teenage girl in love.

Just a kiss. Just a simple kiss, yet it made her feel so much closer to him.

Her knees brushed against his, erasing any sense of distance. If she reached out, she could touch him.

“Sir…”

I feel strange.

Seo-ah couldn’t bring herself to express her emotions, so she simply clung to his shirt tightly.

As Kang-woo leaned in, she instinctively leaned back—until she lost her balance and fell onto the couch.

In an instant, he was hovering over her, their bodies pressed together.

From below, his shadowed face looked more mature, serious, and strangely seductive.

The air felt thick with tension. Even someone as inexperienced as her could sense that this moment could go further.

Their breaths filled the silent room. Kang-woo’s lips glistened with her saliva.

“You did well.”

But instead of continuing, he helped her sit up and gently ruffled her hair.

The momentary tension vanished. It was as if the heated atmosphere had never existed.

The air that had been so hot just seconds ago suddenly felt cool.

A few seconds of silence passed. Seo-ah awkwardly smiled and reached for her coffee cup.

“A kiss isn’t a big deal. It didn’t affect me at all.”

Even though she had just experienced something that sent heat pooling in her stomach. Even though her heart was still racing like crazy.

She forced herself to lie.

She couldn’t be the only one affected.

Looking at Kang-woo’s calm face brought her back to reality.

Afraid he would notice her lie, she quickly averted her gaze and drank her coffee, despite its bitter taste.

“I see. If it didn’t affect you, that’s good. Let’s go home. I’ll take you.”

“Okay.”

“Wait here for a moment. I have something to take care of.”

With that, Kang-woo left in a hurry.

Alone in the spacious living room, Seo-ah placed a cold hand against her burning cheek. The coolness helped lower her temperature a little.

‘He really isn’t affected at all.’

To him, a kiss was so meaningless that he could immediately go do other things.

Seo-ah knew this was all just business to him.

But understanding it logically didn’t mean her heart felt the same way.

Tick. Tock.

The ticking clock filled the silence.

Ten minutes later, Kang-woo returned.

“It’s late. Let’s go.”

“Yes, sir.”

Seo-ah put on a bright smile, as if nothing had happened, and followed behind him.

⸻

After dropping Seo-ah home, Kang-woo returned to his own place.

Throwing his car keys onto the wall hook, he sat down on the couch. Outside, the sky had turned completely dark.

‘What the hell…’

He buried his face in his hands.

The memory was too vivid.

The way Seo-ah’s long lashes trembled when she closed her eyes.

The way she gasped and accepted his lips.

The way she nervously drank her coffee afterward.

It was frustratingly clear in his mind.

No matter how many years had passed since their high school days, she had once been his student, and he had been her teacher.

And yet, his body had reacted.

He had barely controlled himself. If he had lost his self-restraint, he might have completely lost himself in her.

Her scent was intoxicating.

And her lips—too tempting.

“Pathetic.”

He couldn’t deny it.

He had lost control for a moment.

She was just a young woman who didn’t even realize what had happened.

And yet, here he was, unable to move, his body betraying him.

She had always stood out, even back in high school.

Now, as an adult, she was even more captivating.

A delicate flower—one he had to be careful not to crush.